Mechanobiological conceptual framework for assessing stem cell bioprocess effectiveness

Abstract

Fully realizing the enormous potential of stem cells requires developing efficient bioprocesses and optimizations founded in mechanobiological considerations. Here, we emphasize the importance of mechanotransduction as one of the governing principles of stem cell bioprocesses, underscoring the need to further explore the behavioral mechanisms involved in sensing mechanical cues and coordinating transcriptional responses.We identify the sources of intrinsic, extrinsic, and external noise in bioprocesses requiring further study, and discuss the criteria and indicators that may be used to assess and predict cell-to-cell variability resulting from environmental fluctuations. Specifically, we propose a conceptual framework to explain the impact of mechanical forces within the cellular environment, identify key cell state determinants in bioprocesses, and discuss downstream implementation challenges.

An automated 3D-printed perfusion bioreactor combinable with pulsed electromagnetic field stimulators for bone tissue investigations

“…In the emerging and multidisciplinary research field of mechanobiology, it is clearly recognized that physical stimuli arising from the surrounding microenvironment or externally applied play a crucial role in influencing cell fate 63 , 64 and, at the tissue scale, tissue development, homeostasis, and even disease pathogenesis could be strictly dependent on physical forces 65 . In particular, bone and cartilage are among the tissues mostly influenced by mechanical stimuli in vivo: being deputed to the body support and mechanical stress dissipation, osteochondral tissues are highly exposed to compression and fluid flow-induced shear stress.…”

U-IMPACT: a universal 3D microfluidic cell culture platform

“…For simple fabrication and robust patterning, we developed a new hybrid patterning method facilitated by natural material properties and height differences. Our new approach to patterning has several advantages compared with conventional methods, such as SCF by plasma treatment in the hydrophilic state or a micropost array in the hydrophobic state 19 , 25 , 29 , 30 . First, our design has improved manufacturability, and the total fabrication time is reduced due to the omission of the plasma treatment step.…”

“…All cells were cultured in a 5% CO 2 incubator at 37 °C. We used human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs, Lonza) at passage 4 and normal human LFs (Lonza) at passage 5 to reconstruct vessel networks in the chip 10 , 30 . HUVECs and LFs were cultured in endothelial growth medium-2 (PromoCell) and fibroblast growth medium-2 (Lonza), respectively.…”